Before prepping a room for painting, protect the furniture and flooring against splattering paint or accidents. A good idea is to remove furniture from the room altogether, if possible. Remember to wear a pair of safety goggles and older clothes.

Step 1: Dust and clean walls.

For most surfaces, you can use a towel or a vacuum cleaner. Remove dust, dirt, and grease spots with water, a little mild dishwashing detergent, and a cellulose sponge. When painting a bathroom or kitchen wash the walls with a solution of approximately three teaspoons of laundry detergent to one gallon of water. Rinse the walls with clean water to remove soap residue. Continue reading →